Advanced Reproductive Specialists

01/23/2026

01/20/2026

When women are eating a low fat diet, this causes their hormones to not produce enough progesterone. Estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, DHEA, and testosterone are made from cholesterol; if we don’t eat enough, our bodies take cholesterol from our endocrine system to use for brain function and repair. When that happens, it’s almost impossible for our bodies to maintain hormonal balance.

Cholesterol so important during fertility and pregnancy, it is the foundation of normal cell function and it helps us digest fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K which are essential in formation of healthy fetuses.

Call today to schedule a metabolic consultation for all your wellness needs.

Jacksonville 904-493-2229
Gainesville 352-333-0001
Panama City 850-250-1492
Macon, Georgia 478-475-2229

Dr. Michael Fox, MD
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Advanced Reproductive Specialists
Jacksonville Center for Reproductive Medicine

01/18/2026

Options for Women with Endometriosis Who Plan to Have Children in the Future

For women with endometriosis who hope to become pregnant someday, it's essential to treat the endometriosis. Some non-specialists may advise waiting until you're ready to have children and then undergoing surgery. However, this approach can be detrimental to your future fertility.

Endometriosis is a progressive disease that can worsen over time, spreading to more areas and becoming increasingly complex. Allowing the disease to advance before seeking treatment can jeopardize your fertility.

Endometriosis needs to be treated by excision surgery whether you plan to have children or not. Consulting a specialist who focuses on both endometriosis treatment and fertility can provide you with personalized guidance. We are reproductive endocrinologists and experienced surgeons who specialize in the treatment of infertility and endometriosis. Please call our office to schedule an appointment.

Advanced Reproductive Specialists
Jacksonville Center for Reproductive Medicine

Jacksonville 904-493-2229
Gainesville 352-333-0001
Panama City 850-250-1492
Macon, Georgia 478-475-2229

01/16/2026

Infertility Communication tips:

What To Say:
Let them know that you care. The best thing you can do is let your infertile friends know that you care.

Do your research. Read up about infertility, and possibly treatments or other family building options your friend is considering, so that you are informed when your friend needs to talk.

Act interested. Some people don’t want to talk about infertility, but some do. Let them know you’re available if they want to talk.

Ask them what they need. They may also appreciate if you ask them what the most helpful things to say are.

Provide extra outreach to your male friends. Infertility is not a woman’s-centric issue; your male friends are most likely grieving silently. Don’t push, but let them know you’re available.

When appropriate, encourage therapy. If you feel your friend could benefit from talking to a professional to handle his or her grief, suggest therapy gently. If you go to therapy regularly, or ever have, share your personal story.

Support their decision to stop treatment. No couple can endure infertility treatments forever. At some point, they will stop. This is an agonizing decision to make, and it involves even more grief.

Remember them on Mother’s and Father’s Day. With all of the activity on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, people tend to forget about those who cannot become mothers and fathers. Remember your infertile friends on these days; they will appreciate knowing that you haven’t forgotten them.

Attend difficult appointments with them. You can offer to stay in the waiting room or come into the appointment with them. But the offer lets them know how committed you are to supporting them.

Watch their older kids. Attending appointments may be difficult if they have older kids at home.

Offer to be an exercise buddy. Sometimes losing weight is necessary to make treatments more effective. If you know they are trying to lose weight, you could offer to join them because it would help you achieve your personal fitness goals as well.

Let them know about your pregnancy. But deliver the news in a way that lets them handle their initial reaction privately – email is best.

Not To Say: follow the link below to keep reading.

Talking about infertility can be difficult for everyone including friends and family members. Learn communication tips for discussing this sensitive topic.

01/14/2026

Endometriosis and Pelvic pain are some of the most confusing and poorly managed areas in medicine.

Endometriosis is one of the most misunderstood (and mistreated) diseases in Gynecology and maybe medicine in general. Our surgical treatment method is complete excision that still, even today, is very unusual. There are fewer than 25 Gynecologists in the US that do extensive excisional surgery for endometriosis. There are many studies that demonstrated an increase in fertility after excisional treatment.
Recurrence: Endometriosis is most likely NOT a recurrent disease. We have re-operated on many patients in the last 20 years for other reasons with rare findings of recurrent disease. Most, >99% of gynecologists in the US, use destructive methods at surgery (cautery and laser) in an attempt to “destroy” visible lesions. In most cases, there are numerous lesions present, making this spot treatment very difficult. Microscopic lesions can be missed, and the tissue changes color with cautery and it is impossible to know if the entire lesion has been destroyed, especially for deeper lesions. With excision, the entire area including all the lesions extending out to normal peritoneum is removed. If lesions are deep, we recognize it as we undermine the peritoneum and can completely remove it. We believe a person gets all the endometriosis they are going to have by the mid teens and from there lesions go through their lifecycle and if removed are gone forever. No new disease is forming. What has been observed though by other physicians over time is recurrent pain in patients with endometriosis and when re-operated after a prior cautery procedure, lesions are seen. We see this also in nearly all patients after cautery and laser procedures and there is disease present but it is obvious that some of the disease has been treated before, just not completely. The appropriate word therefore is persistence not recurrence. We therefore feel that excision is curative for endometriosis. Pain could recur but endometriosis would be an unlikely cause of the problem. Hence pain does not equal endometriosis.

Endometriosis Endometriosis and Pelvic pain are some of the most confusing and poorly managed areas in medicine. Endometriosis is one of the most misunderstood (and mistreated) diseases in Gynecology and maybe medicine in general. Our surgical treatment method is complete excision that still, even t...

01/12/2026

Our practice made the decision to add a strong emphasis on the metabolic and nutritional aspects of PCOS and insulin resistance as it applied to ovulation and fertility.

Since that time we have refined our approach to cover all potential treatment options for this most misunderstood disease. Our pregnancy rates have more than doubled with this approach, and patients overall have a much better quality of life.

WHAT IS PCOS?
Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS) is a common and treatable cause of infertility. PCOS is a hormonal disorder affecting 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. Three primary diagnosis of this hormonal balance are: absence of ovulation, high levels of androgens and/or ovarian cysts.
Symptoms of PCOS
* Irregular menstrual cycle- no menstrual periods, frequently missed periods, very heavy periods
* Infertility
* Excess hair growth on face, chin, belly or parts of the body where men usually have hair, a condition called hirsutism.
* Acne that is severe, late onset or persistent located on the face, chest and upper back.
* Thinning hair or hair loss
* Weight gain, obesity or difficulty losing weight, especially around the waist
* Pelvis pain
* Oily skin
* Darkening of skin, or skin tags located along neck creases, groin, underneath breasts and arm pits

Call our office to schedule a consultation.
Jacksonville 904-493-2229
Gainesville 352-333-0001
Panama City 850-250-1492
Macon, Georgia 478-475-2229

01/07/2026

What is your word for the year?
Picking a word of the year can help you focus on what's important to you and what you want to achieve in the year ahead. It can act as a personal motto or slogan. Here are some tips for choosing a word of the year:

* Reflect on the past year: Consider what you've accomplished and what you want to change.
* Think about your goals: Consider your values, intentions, and goals for the year.
* Brainstorm: Look back through your notes and consider what you want to focus on.
* Make a vision board: Visualize what you want to achieve.
* Live your word: Use the word to guide your actions and help you live more mindfully.

01/07/2026

Do you know someone who has high blood pressure, how are they eating?

Most people who are insulin resistant also have high blood pressure, and insulin resistance is directly caused by a high sugar, high grain (even “complex carbs”) diet.

So high blood pressure and uncontrolled blood sugar go hand in hand.

As your insulin level increases, so does your blood pressure. Insulin stores magnesium, but if your insulin receptors are blunted and your cells grow resistant to insulin, you can’t store magnesium so it passes out of your body through urination.

https://mariamindbodyhealth.com/how-to-lower-blood-pressure/

12/31/2025

Happy New Year from our family to yours 🙏❤️

As we step into 2026, we're thinking of all the families we've had the privilege to walk alongside on their journey to parenthood. Your strength, hope, and resilience inspire us every day 💪.

If you're starting a new chapter in your fertility journey, we're here for you 🤝. Let's make this year one of healing, growth, and possibility 🌈.

Wishing you joy, love, and the happiness that comes with building a family 🙌

12/30/2025

12/24/2025

This Christmas, we're thinking of all the families who've faced the challenges of infertility. As doctors who've witnessed the journey, we're reminded of the hope, resilience, and love that defines this season.

To those who've struggled, we see you. We understand the longing, the disappointment, and the uncertainty. We're honored to walk alongside you on this path.

May this holiday bring you peace, comfort, and joy. May your hearts be filled with love and hope for the future.